FIVE-year-old all-round “awesome cow” Rockwella Farm Medallion Belle has impressed judge Scott Braendler, Boldview Farms, Jervois, to gain the highest points for the central region in the Semex Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition.
Mr Braendler said the cow, from Rockwella stud, Torrens Vale, stood out among the 144 entries across 21 farms.
“It is an awesome cow all-round, with a lot of strength and a fantastic udder,” he said.
Breeder Wes Hurrell, Torrens Vale, said they had been competing on and off in the competition since its inception and while they had some success in placings before, this was the first win.
Belle is classified 87, but he is hopeful it could go higher in the next few years.
“It’s got an exceptional rear udder, frame and capacity,” he said.
“It’s a cow that catches your eye and it’s what we’re trying to breed.”
Mr Braendler said the competition had been a “flat out couple of days” but was a great chance to view different herds and operations, including some that were not regulars in the show ring.
Another impressive cow was winning three-year-old Mooway Destry Carmel, exhibited by Mooway Holsteins, Victor Harbor.
Destry Carmel had previously won the two-year-old class in last year’s on-farm competition, and was the supreme exhibit for the Holstein feature at the Royal Adelaide Show.
Breeder Colin Dohnt described the cow as the “best” he had bred.
Mr Braendler said Destry Carmel was an “awesome young cow”, with a “fantastic udder and depth of rib”.
Mooway also won the four-year-old section with Mooway Smokin Mermaid.
First-placed in the two-year-old section was Edge Gerold Marissa, from S&T Treloar, Edge Holsteins, Victor Harbor.
Mature cow winner was Windy Vale Shotal Toni-ET, from CJ&KA Royans, Windy Vale Holsteins, Myponga.
An Ayrshire breeder, Mr Braendler said he loved seeing good cows, no matter the breed.
“There is a sheer depth of great quality cows in the area,” he said.
In the South East sub-branch, judge Casey Treloar, Edge Holsteins, Victor Harbor, said a pair of full-sisters in the two-year-old category were a “real standout” in the competition.
“It was the last farm, on the last day and as soon as I saw them, I knew I had my champion,” she said.
First-placed Teka Goldwyn Chevon-IMP-ET, and second place Teka Goldwyn Chevy-IMP-ET are the product of imported embryos from the Larcrest Cosmopolitan cow family, exhibited by TE&AK Henningsen, Teka Holsteins, Mount Gambier.
BK&AM Tweddle, Benlargo Holsteins, Glencoe, won the three-year-old section, with Grantley Sailing Jade, and the four-year-old, with Benlargo Toy Ding.
The five-year-old winner was Fantasia Guthrie Cupus, Fantasia Holsteins, Mount Gambier, and the mature cow was Edenberg Harlem Panam-OC, from Virginia Ewing, Edenburg Holsteins, Kalangadoo.
The South East had 91 entries from 16 breeders.
This was Ms Treloar’s first time judging on-farm, and she said the different format was quite a challenge.
“Each breeder had their own breeding values and goals, which you could see in their herd,” she said.
“It was great to see heaps of mature cows, who have had lots of calves and stood test of time.
“The SE cows had some really great feet and legs and great mammary systems.”